Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare visited China recently, his second official visit since his country and the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations about four years earlier.

There is no doubt Prime Minister Sogavare has finally found a trusted friend - a friend with whom he is comfortable doing business on a level playing field. So much so that when he arrived in Beijing, he reportedly told Chinese officials, "I am back home."

Traditional partners almost always attach conditions to their support for the Solomon Islands. However, China has refrained from doing so in its warm and growing relations with the Solomon Islands.

In the space of the almost four years, China has proven its unwavering support for the Solomon Islands' development endeavor.

Since September 2019, Beijing has injected hundreds of millions of dollars into infrastructure development, particularly in the capital, Honiara where China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, China's state-owned company is completing the Solomon Islands' first national sports stadium in preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games in November.

China has also stepped into other sectors as well.

It is completing two dormitories - one for males and the other for females - which will provide additional accommodation for some 900 students at the Solomon Islands National University.

In the health sector, China poured millions of dollars into the coffers of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, particularly in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Work will soon start on a state-of-the-art hospital China is building in Honiara. 

Beijing's growing generosity appears to have encouraged Sogavare to engage more. In his view, China has become a friend that has consistently demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the Solomon Islands' development difficulties.

During his visit, Sogavare signed nine agreements with China covering development cooperation, trade, infrastructure development, civil aviation, education, police affairs, customs and meteorology. This signals the beginning of phase II of China's multi-million-dollar aid assistance to the Solomon Islands.

Sogavare has bigger things weighing heavily on his mind. Sogavare is convinced that without Beijing's help, Solomon Islands' economy would continue on a downward spiral.

To suggest that Sogavare was in China to initial agreements already on paper would miss the point of why he was there in the first place. Sogavare visited China with the weight of the nation's economic ills on his shoulder.

The man who served the nation as prime minister four times has finally come to acknowledge that all is not well in terms of the nation's economy.

At a time when Solomon Islands is facing daunting economic challenges, Sogavare must have been pleased that he had struck stable and growing relations with China, a friend that can help boost Solomon Islands' economic and social development. 

Are there lessons to be learned about the Solomon Islands and China relations? There indeed are. Sogavare seems to have discovered the key. This involves three crucial steps: taking action, engaging in dialogue, and actively listening. In this aspect, it's evident Sogavare has made a correct assessment.

The author is the Chief of Staff of the Solomon Star, the largest selling and oldest newspaper in the Solomon Islands. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn